On an island with Willie Mays

With 1,168 fans watching, the incomparable Willie Mays – the first Black player in the history of the Class B Interstate League – homers 73 years ago today on Harrisburg’s historic City Island.

The home run is just one of four Mays hits that summer in the minor leagues for the 1950 Trenton Giants and comes exactly eight weeks after his first homer in organized ball – a grand slam – in Trenton’s 21-8 victory on July 2, 1950 at Sunbury.

Within a year, the 19-year-old Mays – known in the minors as “Junior” Mays – reaches the majors and goes on to hit 660 homers before retiring in 1973 as arguably the greatest all-around player in baseball history.